Greece: I am Zeus!

Chapter 278 The Arrival of Death

This good news has given hope to those who fear death.

But after all, everyone has seen it, and the gods haven't said how one can enter Heaven.

But thinking about it, it's probably not that easy.

Some people have asked God what the divine and just order of God-King is.
God pondered for a long time, then said softly: "Compassion, mercy, kindness, love, tolerance, respect, courage, and wisdom."

Doing something with this sincere heart is a good thing, something that conforms to the divine, righteous, and orderly order of the God-King.

Conversely, evil deeds.

Humans are still quite ignorant about this.

Therefore, they held only one very simple idea: if they could avoid dying, it would be better to avoid dying.

At the very least, we should make the most of this time we're alive and do some good deeds.

Humanity is slowly learning to be more careful and cautious in doing things, and to face death more seriously.

We should also be more careful in dealing with life, cherishing what we have and pursuing what we want, but also refraining from destroying or harming it at will.

Because after death, the new beginning also has a completely different start.

Death is not all bad. Those who have suffered from various accidents, injuries and illnesses, unable to find relief or a second chance, can now finally find an end and begin a new chapter in another world.

Prometheus, in a true sense, began to witness his creations die one by one.

He too must begin to learn separation.

A true separation.

Before this, many people had suffered greatly due to various unexpected circumstances.

But under His protection, nothing irreversible happened, and not a single person truly died.

Even if it's already half-rotten, the soul is still inside the body, and as long as He arrives, He can always save it.

But now, the boundary between life and death is clear, and there is no longer enough time for Him to arrive at many things.

For the first time, He was truly facing the "death" of His creation.

True, eternal separation.

Even gods must face this.

Compared to this change, which has both advantages and disadvantages and whose overall pros and cons are difficult to distinguish in terms of magnitude, another change is truly valuable.

Another change is that the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.

That is, the stability and perfection of the sleep law.

Whether it's physical or mental fatigue, it can now be restored through orderly rest.

No longer do we have to endure the inherent suffering that we cannot escape as long as we are conscious.

It was a kind of most tender "compassion" that even the gods loved.

No matter how heavy the reality I carry or how much heart-wrenching pain I experience when I am sober.

No matter how tired, exhausted, or tormented you are...

However, as long as you fall asleep, all suffering will be temporarily shut out.

Perhaps a life lived in clarity cannot truly belong to oneself.

However, at the very least, there is still a third of life when you can truly relax and truly belong to yourself.

In that absolutely peaceful private territory, every living being truly is itself and belongs only to itself.

In peaceful sleep, the self is able to return to itself, and to briefly and truthfully say: "This is my moment."

Prometheus witnessed "death" for the first time.

It was also the first time I faced a separation that was irreversible and could never be relived.

Even though His father and brother were banished to Tartarus, they still "lived".

Gods are immortal and eternal; the flame of their divinity is inextinguishable.

As long as the spirit is not extinguished, whatever happens or how long the separation lasts, it is only temporary.

Time, to God, is merely His friend.

Even though the separation is long, as long as we are alive, there is always hope.

However, mortals are different.

Once a mortal dies, the death is irreversible.

This is an unalterable ironclad rule established by the God-King.

Although their souls can still travel to the underworld to continue "living".

However, if one cannot enter that supreme paradise, then one's ultimate fate is already sealed.

Yes, He can also enter the underworld to see those who have died one last time.

But, that’s all.

Unless the King of Gods or the King of the Underworld personally grants it.

Otherwise, once any mortal spirit enters the Netherworld, it will never be allowed to leave.

The realms of gods, mortals, and the underworld are three distinct realms, each with its own absolute domain, and no one is allowed to cross them at will.

Prometheus understood that this order was not wrong; it was both a restriction and a protection.

Even gods descending to the mortal realm must restrain their divine power and are not allowed to arbitrarily harm or destroy anything in the world; this is strictly stipulated by the twelve sacred laws of the God-King.

At this moment, Prometheus was in a human tribe, witnessing the first real death of a human.

He was surrounded by a group of people. A group of people whose eyes were filled with awe and fear, a group of pitiful people who crawled on the ground, not daring to raise their heads.

They all lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to utter a word.

What they revered was God; what they feared was the tiny life that had fallen silent before the gods.

Just from a brief moment of drowning, he stopped breathing, could no longer move, and could no longer make a sound...

A little boy.

Many people have drowned, some many times, some for even longer periods, and have experienced the terrifying pain of suffocation and drowning.

But never before has he been pulled from the water and never been able to wake up again.

This child is only four or five years old, and his teeth are still unstable.

He had short, soft chestnut hair and a pair of bright brown eyes that should have been as lively as a fawn in the forest.

This is a very cute child.

However, those once lively eyes were now devoid of any life, leaving only an empty void.

That soft and agile body has now become cold and stiff.

The little face that used to talk, laugh, cry, and fuss now has no light left on it.

The dampness still covered his small body.

Like a dream that hasn't dried.

His mother, facing the eternal separation of "death" for the first time, faced her motionless child, and had lost all ability to react.

There was no crying, no wailing, not even a sound.

She simply knelt beside that small body, frozen in place.

It was as if her life had vanished along with the child's departure.

Her soul seemed to have been ripped from her body; she just stared blankly at that small, never-rising chest.

This is not only the first time this mother has faced death, but also the first time that all of humanity has faced the passing of a companion.

Before this, no matter what they encountered, as long as they could wait for Prometheus to arrive, they would not truly bear the pain of this eternal separation.

As long as Prometheus comes, people can believe that there is always a way to make amends and there is always room for remedy.

Whether it's a body torn in two, a body burned, or drowning and poisoning, with divine assistance, none of these are problems.

Humans are not actually unaware of the concept of "death".

Although they had never experienced the death of their own companions, they were already accustomed to the deaths of other creatures on earth.

Many deaths were caused by their own hands.

Prometheus also spoke to them about "death" and "the underworld".

But when the death of a companion truly comes before their eyes, when the object of death changes from "others" to "their own kind," immense fear still engulfs everyone immediately.

That is the fear of the unknown; even more so, the fear of loss.

Humans once believed they were different from other mortal beings.

They are God's favorites. God accompanies them, teaches them everything, and loves them dearly.

They never faced death.

They are beings created by God to rule the earth; they are different from ordinary spirits!
They firmly believe this.

But now, the truth tells them that they may be no different from other mortals.

Death will come upon them equally, and perhaps it will be for everyone.

Everyone's eyes were filled with anticipation and fear.

They gazed at Prometheus, filled with anticipation.

As always, this great deity, one of their creators, guardians, and teachers, can once again easily dispel all suffering and calamity with a mere wave of his hand.

Yes, let's get this child moving again.

However, Prometheus remained silent.

He couldn't do it.

In a world unseen by mortals, a god stands quietly before Him.

A new god—Death, Thanatos.

This being represents the law of "death" and is the god who ultimately perfects death.

In the unseen realm of the underworld, Death had already gently embraced the child's soul in its arms.

This seemingly resolute and cold deity was now displaying an unexpectedly gentle demeanor.

He did not want this innocent child to suffer the pain of separation.

I don't want this poor little child to witness his mother's utterly devastated state.

So He put this little soul into a temporary slumber.

Prometheus had already learned of the latest changes in the universe from the announcements of the divine order and the divine network.

He looked at the god before him, whose face was resolute yet whose eyes revealed tenderness, and spoke in a hoarse, almost helpless voice in a world unseen by mortals.

"Honorable Lord of Death, Prometheus pays homage to you."

There was no blame in His tone, only calm understanding and humble prayer: "I understand Your sacred duty, and I thank You for bringing about a new change to this universe, making the world more complete."

"I am even more grateful to you for bringing final relief and peace to all living beings who are suffering endless pain."

(End of this chapter)